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Sunday 28 March 2004 FA Nationwide Women's Premier League, Southern Division
Merthyr Tydfil Ladies
1
-
2
AFC Wimbledon
Match report
MERTHYR TYDFIL LADIES 1 AFC WIMBLEDON LADIES 2
Dons Ladies made the trip to South Wales in the search for three more Nationwide League points in their bid for second place, and made the long journey home with mission accomplished.
Kylie Davies was on the bench after reporting a slight tweak, so twin sister Danni continued her run at right back, otherwise the team was at full strength, with Beth Sims returning up front to partner Julie Bygrave and Keisha Ramos returning to the left back berth.
AFC started brightly enough, with Julie Bygrave opening the scoring after only eleven minutes, heading Michelle Riley's pinpoint cross past the stranded Welsh keeper from ten yards. Merthyr, playing in a Cardiff City kit after a recent switch of allegiance, made light of their struggling League position and equalised through Welsh International centre forward Jenna Hopkins after twenty-five minutes. With both sides needing the points, the game ebbed from end to end, but neither side was able to score again before the break.
The second half continued in the same vein, with both defences limiting their opposing forwards chances. Dons best chance of the opening exchanges fell to Danni Davies, who crept in at the far post but was unable to direct a diving header goal-wards. A double switch by Graham Newnham just after the hour almost bore immediate fruit, Kylie replacing Danni and repeating the far post header trick, again steering the ball past the post. Michelle Riley had a powerful header from a corner cleared off the line before Maria Bertelli scored what proved to be the winner with seventeen minutes to go, receiving the ball from a throw in, cleverly leaving the ball to bounce over one defender, even more cleverly back heading over another and then slamming the ball in off the keeper from the most acute of angles. A superb piece of skill. With the lead restored, the ladies defended well for the last fifteen minutes to secure the win.
